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How To Wash Organic Throw Blankets - YaYa & Co.

How To Wash Organic Throw Blankets

Mastering Washing Care for Your Linen, Cotton & Wool Throw Blankets⁣

Throw blankets are more than just cozy companions on chilly evenings; they're also investments in comfort and style. Whether draped over a sofa or spread across a bed, blankets add warmth and aesthetic appeal to any space. However, to preserve their softness and durability, it's crucial to care for them properly, especially when it comes to washing. Each fabric—linen, cotton and wool—has its own characteristics and requires specific attention during cleaning. In this guide, we delve into the best practices for washing linen, cotton, and wool throw blankets to ensure they remain beautifully snug for years to come.

Pay attention to strong detergents and chemicals. These, especially containing bleach, may be too strong for natural fibers, which can be easily discolored. Softeners that coat the fibers are also not advisable – they are much better suited for synthetic textiles. Instead, use natural and mild products.

 

 

The characteristics of organic cotton make it the most breathable fabric, second only to wool, and this factor plus its softness and lightweight features are why cotton is so popular.⁣

Washing helps maintain the hypoallergenic quality of your blanket, but if there are no liquid spills or severe dirt stains from pets or children, then vigorous shake and air your blanket outside for a couple of hours work very well.⁣

Our cotton throw blankets are all 100% machine washable with the exceptions to ur crochet and handwoven throws which are hand wash/spot clean only. Cotton will still shrink by about 5% over time, but it also stretches when wet, which accounts for the blanket's shape distorting if line dried soaking wet. Instead of completely drying the blanket in the tumble dryer on the lowest heat setting, dry it until it is free of moisture but still a little damp, and then air dry it outside until completely dry. This easy hack will make a big difference in the long run.⁣

 



Our linen throw blankets are typically stone-washed for softness, but contrary to popular belief, linen benefits from being washed every so often. ⁣A front loading machine is ideal to give plenty of room for circulation.⁣ Wash on a short, gentle cycle on low heat, with as much water as possible to allow for movement, always avoiding harsh detergents. Tumble dry on delicate setting. With linen, use low or no heat; with linen/cotton, use medium heat.⁣ Linen will become brittle if it's dried at a high temperature or for an extended period - this will result in broken fibers and a fire hazard because of the extreme 'lint'. Whenever the fabric rubs on itself in a "dry" condition, it will abrade and show fiber on the surface.⁣ Tumbling helps keep a soft drape. You can line dry, but the fabric will initially be very stiff.⁣ It's better to remove the blanket slightly damp from the dryer; that way, you'll avoid baking and breaking the fibers.

 

 

With a little know-how, you'll find that it's actually pretty easy to wash wool blankets stress-free. What matters most is the type of detergent you use, the temperature of the water and the wash setting.⁣

Unlike synthetic fibers, wool has both antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Your wool blanket simply doesn't need to be washed often. If it seems like it needs to be cleaned, it may just need to be aired out. Draping it to expose the fibers to fresh air is a great way to extend time between wash cycles. But when it does need spot cleaning or you're ready to wash it before putting it in seasonal storage, follow these steps to learn how to wash and dry your wool blankets.

Hand washing wool is the best, gentlest way to clean wool at home as an alternative to dry cleaning. Some dry cleaning solvents and enzyme-rich detergents can damage the yarns in wool, so be sure to clean with a detergent appropriate for woolens. Wool is sensitive to water temperature and agitation, so a gentle hand wash for wool is ideal.


If spot cleaning only, proceed with air drying by hanging the wool item or laying it flat to dry. Wool knits should typically dry laying flat, and wool outerwear can be hung up to dry. To help remove any water spots, wrinkles or excess odor, steam the wool item. Wool should never be placed in the dryer.

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